Bernardo Faria earns 11,000 euros at BJJ Professional Cup

The first edition of BJJ Professional Cup, event that happened on the friendly city of Biella, Italy, has given over 60 thousand Euros in rewards on the greatest Jiu-Jitsu reward prize in all Europe. The numbers called the attention of some of the best names of the gentle art, like the world champion Bernardo Faria and the two-time world champion Romulo Barral, besides Kron Gracie, Gilbert Durinho and Lucio Lagarto. On the black belt category, the champions earned four thousand Euros and the second bests got a thousand Euros each. On the absolute dispute, the reward given to its champion was of seven thousand Euros, and the second best earned ‘only’ three thousand.

The big name of the competition was Bernardo Faria (Alliance), who after winning the matched bout against Raphael Abi-Rihan by 10×2, won the weight and absolute disputes and brought 11 thousand Euros home. On the absolute dispute, Bernardo had a striking beginning, submitting his two first opponents to get to the semifinals against Lucio Lagarto. On the best fight of the entire event, Bernardo beat down Lagarto (8×4) and moved forwards to the finale. On the other key, Romulo Barral (Gracie Barra) only needed to submit one fighter, since his opponents have given up on fighting him.

But the so expected bout, the absolute finals didn’t end up like the fighters and the fans were hoping it to. Right on the beginning of the fight, Romulo fit a foot-lock and Bernardo claimed that Romulo was twisting his knee and complained at the judge. Right after that, Rominho let go the position and claimed that Bernardo had given up. After a lot of discussion, Romulo chose to return to the mats and don’t be disqualified. “Barral’s position wasn’t illegal and when Bernardo first complaint I punished him. I would give him another warning and put them on the same position they were, but Barral decided not to fight anymore”, explained the judge Alvaro Bobadilha.

“I fit a really tough position, I was trying to make a position work against Bernardo because of his good half-guard game. Bernardo said once or twice that I was twisting his knee and I got it as a verbal abandonment. I let the position go and he pushed me after that. I believe he should have been disqualified right there. But then we stop and think about it, we both were nervous… Bernardo is an excellent athlete, he’s to be congratulated”, said Barral.

“Unfortunately it happened, and I got pretty upset. It’s hard to explain what I’m feeling, it’s like I wasn’t really the absolute champion. Romulo is a guy who I admire a lot, but it happened. If I did anything wrong, I’ve apologized for it. I always try to stick to the rules and I believe I didn’t do anything wrong… He fit a leg-lock and it was right on the side of my knee, I complained with the judge, but at any point I said ‘ouch’. I could have gotten a warning or a punishment for my complaint, because the fighter’s supposed to fight, not to talk, but other than that, there was no reason why I should be disqualified”, analyzed Bernardo Faria after the finale.

Barral and Bernardo strikers on their weight division

On the super heavy division, Bernardo fought Lucio Lagarto and with a sweep, he got that finished (2×0). On the finals, he fought Chico Mendes (Checkmat), and Bernardo had a 5×0 on the scoreboard and then submitted his opponent with a back choke. On the medium heavy, Romulo Barral earned the golden medal and another four thousand Euros as he submitted Mathias Ribeiro with a back choke, then fought Eduardo Rios and submit him with a foot-lock to beat down, on the finals, Raphael Abi-Rihan by 2×0, after Abi Rihan had bravely defended a twisted triangle applied by Barral right on the beginning of the bout.

Kron Gracie finishes them all

On the matched-up bout against Yan Cabral, Kron Gracie had already submitted him with a choke. On the medium weight, Kron kept the same rhythm and submitted all three opponents he had to face, including on the finals against the second better in World Gilbert Durinho, who started by taking Gracie down and scoring 2×0. While he was trying to break into Kron’s guard, Kron fit a choke so surprising that his father, Rickson Gracie, applauded. “I was really surprised with that submission. Later he’ll teach me that one at home”, said Rickson, proud of his son’s performance.

Among the lighters, who earned the four thousand reward was Fernando Vieira. World champion on the blue, purple and black belt, the Brazilian had to face Reinaldo Ribeiro on the finale and beat him down by 5×0 and got the golden medal among the feather weights. On the ultra heavy, Checkmat’s black belt, Thiago “The Monster” Borges, earned the gold after defeating Ricardo Barros (3×2).

Silva brothers fight against each other for real and are the highlights of Master

While teammates don’t want to fight each other, leaving some events with no final result, the brothers Adriano and Thiago Silva gave a great example as both stepped on the mat and fought against each other hard on the master’s absolute finale.

Adriano, who had already earned the medium heavy title as he defeated Sergio Canudo (2×0), submitted his brother with a katagatame choke. On the light feather weight, Wellington Megaton launched just to fight the finale against Alvaro Bobadilla, who had won his two previous bouts, and beat down the black belt that represented GFTeam (5×2). Among the light weights, Alan Freitas got the win by points.

The show itself was a success, and its producers Ari Galo, Carlson Gracie Junior and Mario Vilella are already planning a second edition, which might happen in Brazil or on the United States. Stay tuned on TATAME to follow, this week, an exclusive photo gallery of the event and interviews with all champions.

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